Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Atfirstglance,itappearedasiftherewerenothingelse,ariderlesssquadrontrampingsteadilyovertheupturnedploughlandoftheranch.Butitdrewnearer.Thehorseswereinlines,sixabreast,harnessedtomachines.Thenoiseincreased,defineditself.Therewasashoutortwo;occasionallyahorseblewthroughhisnostrilswithaprolonged,vibratingsnort.Theclickandclinkofmetalworkwasincessant,themachinesthrowingoffacontinualrattleofwheelsandcogsandclashingsprings.Thecolumnapproachednearer;wascloseathand.Thenoisesmingledtoasubdueduproar,abewilderingconfusion;theimpactofinnumerablehoofswasaveritablerumble.Machineaftermachineappeared;andAnnixter,drawingtooneside,remainedfornearlytenminuteswatchingandinterested,while,likeanarrayofchariots—clattering,jostling,creaking,clashing,aninterminableprocession,machinesucceedingmachine,six-horseteamsucceedingsix-horseteam—bustling,hurried—MagnusDerrick’sthirty-threegraindrills,eachwithitseighthoes,wentclamouringpast,likeanadvanceofmilitary,seedingthetenthousandacresofthegreatranch;fecundatingthelivingsoil;implantingdeepinthedarkwomboftheEarththegermoflife,thesustenanceofawholeworld,thefoodofanentirePeople.

           Whenthedrillshadpassed,AnnixterturnedandrodebacktotheLowerRoad,overthelandnowthickwithseed.HedidnotwonderthattheseedingonLosMuertosseemedtobehastilyconducted.